Conveyor track of the smart-track type

ABSTRACT

A conveyor track of the smart-track type, comprises two conveyors, each consisting of at least one endless, flexible conveyor member, such as a chain, each conveyor having a separate drive and elements for switching the drives on and off and controlling the conveying speed of the conveyor members, and at least one section provided with drivers being attached to each of the conveyors by elements attachment members. The elements ( 21 ) for removably mounting a section ( 16; 17 ) provided with drivers ( 15 ) on an attachment member ( 20 ) of a conveyor ( 1   a   , 1   b   ; 2   a   , 2   b ) are designed in such a manner that the distance from these elements ( 21 ) to two flexible conveyor members ( 1   a   , 1   b   ; 2   a   , 2   b ) situated next to and at a short distance from one another is substantially identical.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a conveyor track of the smart-track type,comprising two conveyors, each consisting of at least one endless,flexible conveyor member, such as a chain, each conveyor having aseparate drive and means for switching the drives on and off andcontrolling the conveying speed of the conveyor members, and at leastone section provided with drivers being attached to each of theconveyors by means of attachment members. A machine of this type isdisclosed in EP-A-0748751.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Such a machine can be used to group in a row a defined number of smallbags filled with crisps or the like and then to package these small bagswith the aid of a so-called mould-fill seal machine. In a machine ofthis type, a sheet of film is moulded into a bag which is stretchedaround a number of smaller bags. While a row of small bags which havebeen grouped together are being packaged in a film to form a filled bag,another row of small bags is grouped together.

Known designs of this conveyor track have the drawback of only beingsuitable for sections which are provided with a defined number ofdrivers. To transfer to sections with a different number of driversand/or with a different distance between the drivers, it is necessary toexchange the chains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to design the conveyor track described inthe preamble in such a way that the sections provided with drivers canbe replaced quickly without having to exchange the flexible members.

To this end, according to the invention the conveyor track ischaracterized in that the means for removably mounting sections whichare provided with drivers on an attachment member of a flexible conveyormember are designed in such a manner that the distance from these meansto the two flexible conveyor members positioned next to one another issubstantially identical.

In an advantageous embodiment, the attachment members comprise L-shapedprofiles.

The conveyor track preferably comprises two parallel pairs of flexiblemembers.

To provide good guidance for the sections provided with drivers, a freeedge extends on either side of the drivers, extending into a U-shapedguide profile which is arranged fixedly on the frame of the conveyortrack.

Replacement of the sections provided with drivers can be simplifiedfurther if the guide profile has an insertion and removal part which isintended to guide a section provided with drivers into an attachmentposition inside the conveyor track or out of the conveyor track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to thefigures, which show an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through the conveyor track of thesmart-track type according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of this conveyor track.

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of two chains arranged next to one another,each belonging to a different chain conveyor.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically depicts a plan view of a device for guiding morethan six filled small bags to a fill-mould-seal machine.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic side view of a part of the device shown inFIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The conveyor track illustrated has four endless chains which form twochain conveyors 1 a, 1 b and 2 a, 2 b. The chain 1 a of one conveyor isat a short distance from the chain 2 a of the other conveyor, and thechain 1 b of one conveyor is at a short distance from the chain 2 b ofthe other conveyor. As an alternative to chains, it is also possible touse other flexible members. The distance between the chains 1 a and 1 bof one conveyor is greater than the distance between the chains 2 a and2 b of the other conveyor. The chain 1 a runs over a sprocket 4 which isdriven by a motor 3 and a sprocket 5 which is not driven. The chain 1 bruns over a sprocket 6 which is driven by the motor 3 and a sprocket 7which is not driven. The chain 2 a runs over a sprocket 8 which is notdriven and a sprocket 10 which is driven by the motor 9, and the chain 2b runs over a sprocket 11 which is not driven and a sprocket 12 which isdriven by the motor 9. On both motors 3 and 9, there are means (notshown, preferably computer-controlled) which can switch the saidconveyors on and off automatically and are able to control the speed ofthe conveyors.

The axles of the sprockets 8 and 11 are mounted so as to run freely onthe common driven axle 13 of the sprockets 4 and 6, while the axles ofthe sprockets 5 and 7 are mounted so as to run freely on the commondriven axle 14 of the sprockets 10 and 12.

A section provided with drivers 15 is removably attached to each of thechain conveyors 1 a, 1 b and 2 a, 2 b. In FIGS. 1 and 3, the sectionattached to the conveyor 1 a, 1 b is denoted by 16 and the sectionattached to the conveyor 2 a, 2 b is denoted by 17.

On either side of the drivers 15, the sections 16 and 17 have aprojecting edge 18 which fits into a horizontal U profile 19, whichserves as a guide. There are therefore two U profiles. L-shapedattachment members 20 are fixed to certain chain links of the chains. Apin 21 is arranged on that flange of these attachment members whichfaces away from the corresponding chain. The attachment members 20 ofthe chains 1 a and 1 b are arranged on the inside of the chains, and theflange of these attachment members which is provided with a pin extendsinwards. The attachment members 20 of the chains 2 a, 2 b are arrangedon the outside of these chains and the flange of the relevant attachmentmembers which is provided with a pin 21 extends outwards. The dimensionsof the L-shaped attachment members 20 with respect to the distancebetween the adjacent chain parts of the chains 1 a and 2 a and of thechains 1 b and 2 b is selected in such a way that the pins 21 extend inthe centre plane between the said chains 1 a, 2 a and 1 b, 2 b.

In the projecting side edges 18 of the sections 16 and 17 provided withdrivers there are holes through which the pins 21 can be fitted. Thedistance between the holes in the side edges of the section 16 is equalto that between the holes in the side edges of section 17. Moreover,this distance corresponds to the distance between a pair of pins 21 ofthe L-shaped attachment members 20 of the chains 1 a and 1 b and to thedistance between a pair of pins 21 of the L-shaped attachment members 20of the chains 2 a and 2 b, meaning that, although the distance betweenthe chains 2 a and 2 b is shorter than the distance between the chains 1a and 1 b, the distances between opposite holes in the side edges 18 ofthe sections 16 and 17 are equal to one another. The sections 16 and 17fit both onto the conveyor 1 a, 1 b and onto the conveyor 2 a, 2 b.

In the vicinity of one of the pairs of sprockets, the U-shaped guides 19have a part 19 a (FIG. 3) which can be used to replace the sections 16and 17 with sections having a different number of drivers and/or adifferent distance between the drivers.

The pins 21 may, for example, comprise parts which are resilient withrespect to one another. Moreover, the possibility of pin 21 beingarranged on the projecting parts 18 of the sections and the holesthrough which these pins are to be fitted being arranged in the L-shapedattachment members 20 is not ruled out.

The chains 1 a, 1 b and 2 a, 2 b may easily be provided with anysections provided with members which are in stock. These sections arethen equivalent to one another.

The diagrammatic plan view shown in FIG. 5 and the side view shown inFIG. 6 illustrate how the machine described above can be used.

FIG. 5 shows two hoppers 23 and 24 for vertically supplying small bags,for example, in the case of hopper 23, the small bags are filled withplain crisps, and in the case of hopper 24 the small bags are filledwith paprika-flavoured crisps.

Beneath the hoppers are two conveyor units 25, 26 and 27, 28, whichplace the small bags which have been supplied via the hoppers atsubstantially equal distances from one another. By means of a robot (notshown), the small bags are placed onto a conveyor belt 29 in rows ofthree and are conveyed, in the direction of the arrow, towards aslide-way 30 which deposits the rows of small bags successively intospaces between the drivers 15, which are moved in steps, of the section16 of the conveyor 1 a, 1 b. In the meantime, the section 17 on thechain conveyor 2 a, 2 b has quickly moved into the position shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, in which the spaces between the drivers 15 are situatedopposite the pusher members 31 of a pusher device 32 which is operatedby a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or is driven by an electric motor.As a result of this cylinder being actuated, the rows of small bags arepushed onto the conveyor 33 and are guided by side guides in thedirection of the vertical arrow towards a mould-fill-seal machine whichis not shown but is known per se, where the set of small bags aretightly enclosed in a regular arrangement by film which is moulded intoa sealed bag. In this way, it is possible to package more than six smallbags, in such a manner that the result is a taut bag which has beenfilled in an orderly way.

Numerous variants and additional measures are conceivable within thescope of the main claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Conveyor track, comprising: two conveyors, eachconveyor comprising two spaced-apart endless, flexible conveyor members,each conveyor having a separate drive and means for switching the driveson and off and controlling the conveying speed of the conveyor members,at least one section for supporting items being conveyed, the sectionprovided with drivers which separated the conveyed items from each otheron said at least one section, the section removably mounted to each ofthe conveyors by attachment members, the attachment members forremovably mounting the section being positioned equi-distant from andintermediate to two adjacent flexible conveyor members.
 2. Conveyormember according to claim 1, wherein the attachment members have aprojecting part to mount the section by fitting through an openingarranged in the section.
 3. Conveyor track according to claim 1, whereinthe attachment members comprise L-shaped profiles.
 4. Conveyor trackaccording to claim 3, wherein the L-shaped profiles are attached to thetwo adjacent flexible members, alternating ones of the L-shaped profilesattached to an exterior one of the two adjacent flexible members, andfurther alternating ones of the L-shaped profiles attached to aninterior one of the two adjacent flexible members.
 5. Conveyor trackaccording to claim 4, wherein on both sides of the section, a free edgeprojects on either side of the drivers, this free edge extending into aU-shaped guide profile which is arranged fixedly on a frame of theconveyor track.
 6. Conveyor track according to claim 5, wherein theguide profile has an insertion and a removal part intended to guide thesection into an attachment position inside the conveyor track or out ofthe conveyor track.
 7. Conveyor track, comprising: a first conveyor anda second conveyor, each of the first and second conveyors comprising twospaced-apart endless, flexible conveyor members, the two conveyormembers of the first conveyor being located interior to the two conveyormembers of the second conveyor; each conveyor having a separate drive;at least one section for supporting items being conveyed, the sectionprovided with drivers for separating the conveyed items; and attachmentmembers, some of the attachment members mounted to each of the twoconveyors members of the first conveyor and others of the attachmentmembers mounted to each of the two conveyors members of the secondconveyor, the attachment members including elements for removablymounting and supporting the section, the attachment members beingpositioned equi-distant from and intermediate to two adjacent conveyormembers so that consecutive ones of the elements for removably mountingand supporting the section are in straight-line alignment between thetwo adjacent conveyor members.
 8. The conveyor track of claim 7,wherein, the conveyors members are chains, the elements are projectingpins engagable into openings arranged along edges of the section.
 9. Theconveyor track of claim 8, wherein the attachment members furthercomprise L-shaped profiles.
 10. The conveyor track of claim 9, whereinalternating ones of the L-shaped profiles are attached to an exteriorone of the two adjacent flexible members, and further alternating onesof the L-shaped profiles are attached to an interior one of the twoadjacent flexible members.
 11. The conveyor track of claim 10, whereinon sides of the section, a free edge projects exterior to the drivers,the free edge extending into a U-shaped guide profile arranged fixedlyon a frame of the conveyor track.
 12. The conveyor track of claim 11,wherein the guide profile has an insertion and a removal part intendedto guide the section into an attachment position inside the conveyortrack or out of the conveyor track.
 13. A conveyor track, comprising:four endless chains which form two chain conveyors, a distance between apair of chains of a first conveyor being greater than a distance betweena pair of chains of a second conveyor, the first conveyor being locatedexterior to the second conveyor; the chains run over sprockets driven bytwo motors, a first motor drives sprockets running the chains of thefirst conveyor and the second motor drives sprockets running the chainsof the second conveyor, four of the sprockets are not driven and aresupport on axles mounted so as to run freely on driven axles of othersprockets; a section for conveying items is removably mountably toeither of the first and second conveyors; drivers attached to thesection separate the conveyed items; and mounting elements attached tothe chains provide mounting support for removably mounting the sectionto either of the first and second conveyors, the mounting elements beingfixed to an interior edge of the chains of the first conveyor and to anexterior edge of the chains of the second conveyor, mounting elementslocated between adjacent chains being in common alignment.
 14. Theconveyor track of claim 13, further comprising: the section having,exterior to the drivers, a projecting edge; a horizontal U profile guideengaging the projecting edge.
 15. The conveyor track of claim 13,wherein, the mounting elements include L-shaped attachment members fixedto chain links of the chains; and pins arranged on a flange of theattachment members fit through holes located along a projecting edge ofthe section to provide for removably mounting the section onto theflange.
 16. The conveyor track of claim 15, wherein the pins locatedbetween adjacent chains form a single straight line.